Photo-regenerable oxygen scavenging packaging

ABSTRACT

Photo-regenerable oxygen scavenging packaging is generally disclosed. Some example embodiments may comprise tantalum oxide and/or manganese oxide arranged to act as a photo-regenerable oxygen scavenger. The tantalum oxide, if present, may operate as an oxygen scavenger when the tantalum oxide exists as tantalum (IV) oxide. Subjecting the tantalum oxide to light may transform at least a portion of the tantalum oxide existing as tantalum (V) oxide to tantalum (IV) oxide. The manganese oxide, if present, may operate as an oxygen scavenger when the manganese oxide exists as manganese (II) oxide. Subjecting the manganese oxide to light may transform at least a portion of the manganese oxide existing as manganese (III) oxide to manganese (II) oxide. Some example containers may include a structure defining an interior volume and a photo-regenerable oxygen scavenger disposed in fluidic communication with the interior volume.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to a corresponding patentapplication filed in India and having application number 1339/CHE/2011,filed on Apr. 18, 2011, the entire contents of which are hereinincorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure generally pertains to containers and, moreparticularly, to photo-regenerable oxygen scavenging packaging.

SUMMARY

Oxygen scavenging packaging is generally disclosed. Some exampleembodiments may include methods, apparatus, and/or systems pertaining tooxygen scavenging packaging. For example, some described methods,apparatus, and/or systems may include photo-regenerable oxygenscavenging packaging.

Some example packaging materials according to the present disclosure mayinclude a substrate and a photo-regenerable oxygen scavenger comprisingone or more of tantalum oxide and manganese oxide operatively associatedwith the substrate. The tantalum oxide, when present, may operate as anoxygen scavenger when the tantalum oxide exists as tantalum (IV) oxide.Subjecting the tantalum oxide to light may transform at least a portionof the tantalum oxide existing as tantalum (V) oxide to tantalum (IV)oxide. The manganese oxide, when present, may operate as an oxygenscavenger when the manganese oxide exists as manganese (ii) oxide.Subjecting the manganese oxide to light may transform at least a portionof the manganese oxide existing as manganese (III) oxide to manganese(II) oxide.

Some example containers according to the present disclosure may includea structure at least partially defining an interior volume for receivingcontents therein and a photo-regenerable oxygen scavenger disposed influidic communication with the interior volume. The oxygen scavenger mayinclude one or more of tantalum oxide and manganese oxide. The interiorvolume may be substantially fluidicly isolated from an ambientenvironment. The tantalum oxide, if present, may operate as an oxygenscavenger when the tantalum oxide exists as tantalum (IV) oxide.Subjecting the tantalum oxide to light may transform at least a portionof the tantalum oxide existing as tantalum (V) oxide to tantalum (IV)oxide. The manganese oxide, if present, may operate as an oxygenscavenger when the manganese oxide exists as manganese (II) oxide.Subjecting the manganese oxide to light may transform at least a portionof the manganese oxide existing as manganese (III) oxide to manganese(II) oxide.

Some example methods of preparing oxygen scavenging packaging materialsaccording to the present disclosure may include disposing aphoto-regenerable oxygen scavenger on a surface of a substrate. Theoxygen scavenger may include one or more of tantalum oxide and manganeseoxide. The tantalum oxide, if present, may operate as an oxygenscavenger when the tantalum oxide exists as tantalum (IV) oxide.Subjecting the tantalum oxide to light may transform at least a portionof the tantalum oxide existing as tantalum (V) oxide to tantalum (IV)oxide. The manganese oxide, if present, may operate as an oxygenscavenger when the manganese oxide exists as manganese (II) oxide.Subjecting the manganese oxide, if present, to light may transform atleast a portion of the manganese oxide existing as manganese (III) oxideto manganese (II) oxide.

Some example methods of regenerating an oxygen scavenger according tothe present disclosure may include subjecting a photo-regenerable oxygenscavenger to light including wavelengths of about 600 nm to about 660nm. The oxygen scavenger may include tantalum oxide. The tantalum oxidemay operate as an oxygen scavenger when the tantalum oxide exists astantalum (IV) oxide. Subjecting the tantalum oxide to light maytransform at least a portion of the tantalum oxide existing as tantalum(V) oxide to tantalum (IV) oxide. The oxygen scavenger may form at leasta portion of a container configured to receive contents such as abeverage, a food, and/or a pharmaceutical.

Some example methods of regenerating an oxygen scavenger according tothe present disclosure may include subjecting a photo-regenerable oxygenscavenger to light including wavelengths of about 300 nm to about 400nm. The oxygen scavenger may include manganese oxide. The manganeseoxide may operate as an oxygen scavenger when the manganese oxide existsas manganese (II) oxide. Subjecting the manganese oxide to light maytransform at least a portion of the manganese oxide existing asmanganese (III) oxide to manganese (II) oxide. The oxygen scavenger mayform at least a portion of a container configured to receive contentssuch as a beverage, a food, and/or a pharmaceutical.

The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be inany way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments,and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and featureswill become apparent by reference to the drawings and the followingdetailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other features of the present disclosure will becomemore fully apparent from the following description and appended claims,taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Understanding thatthese drawings depict only several embodiments in accordance with thedisclosure and are, therefore, not to be considered limiting of itsscope, the disclosure will be described with additional specificity anddetail through use of the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an example container system;

FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating an example method of operating anautomated preservation management system;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an example container;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an example container;

FIG. 5 is a plot of x-ray powder diffraction data obtained from anexample packaging material before and after photo-regeneration;

FIG. 6 is a plot of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy dataobtained from an example packaging material before and afterphoto-regeneration;

FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating an example method of preparing anoxygen-scavenging packaging material;

FIG. 8 is a flow chart illustrating an example method regenerating anoxygen scavenger;

FIG. 9 is a flow chart illustrating an example method regenerating anoxygen scavenger; and

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating an example computing device; allarranged in accordance with at least some embodiments of the presentdisclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to theaccompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. In the drawings,similar symbols typically identify similar components, unless contextdictates otherwise. The illustrative embodiments described in thedetailed description, drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting.Other embodiments may be used, and other changes may be made, withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented here.It will be readily understood that the aspects of the presentdisclosure, as generally described herein, and illustrated in theFigures, may be arranged, substituted, combined, and designed in a widevariety of different configurations, all of which are explicitlycontemplated and make part of this disclosure.

Methods, systems, devices, and/or apparatus related to oxygen scavengingpackaging are described. Some example embodiments according to thepresent disclosure may pertain to photo-regenerable oxygen scavengingpackaging.

Some example embodiments according to the present disclosure may includeone or more oxygen scavengers. As used herein, “oxygen scavenger” mayrefer to materials and/or compounds that may remove oxygen from theinterior of a closed package, such as (a) by reacting or combining withentrapped oxygen and/or oxygen perfusing or leaking into the packageand/or (b) by catalyzing an oxidation reaction yielding innocuousproducts. In some example embodiments according to the presentdisclosure, an oxygen scavenger may include tantalum oxide.

The present disclosure contemplates that tantalum (IV) oxide (TaO₂) maycombine with oxygen to form tantalum (V) oxide (Ta₂O₅), such as by thefollowing reaction:

4TaO₂+O₂→2Ta₂O₅

in some example embodiments according to the present disclosure, thecombination of tantalum (IV) oxide with oxygen from its surroundingenvironment to form tantalum (V) oxide may reduce the amount of oxygenin the surrounding environment (e.g., the interior volume of a closedpackage).

The present disclosure contemplates that air typically contains about21% oxygen, and reducing the amount of oxygen within a closed packagemay increase the shelf lite of a beverage, a food, and/or apharmaceutical stored therein. For example, some bacteria thatcontribute to spoilage of food may use oxygen, and reducing the amountof oxygen within a package containing the food may delay and/or preventspoilage of the food. For example, when the oxygen concentration of theenvironment in which produce is stored is maintained less than about 5%,the rate of deterioration of stored produce may be substantiallyreduced.

The present disclosure contemplates that tantalum (V) oxide may releaseoxygen to form tantalum (IV) oxide when it is exposed to light. In someexample embodiments, subjecting the tantalum (V) oxide to light mayexcite its electrons, which may cause it to transform to tantalum (IV)oxide. For example, exposure to light (e.g., including wavelengths ofabout 632 nm) may cause at least a portion of the tantalum (V) oxide torelease oxygen and form tantalum (IV) oxide, such as by the followingreaction:

Ta₂O₅ +hγ (632 nm)→TaO₂+O₂ (g)+Ta*O

Some example embodiments according to the present disclosure may includetantalum oxide arranged to act as a photo-regenerable oxygen scavenger,such as in connection with packaging for a beverage, a food, and/or apharmaceutical.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an example container system 100, inaccordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure.Container system 100 may include a container 102 including a structurewhich may comprise one or more walls 102A, 102B, 102C, 102D which may atleast partially define an interior 104 configured to receive one or morecontents 106A, 106B (e.g., one or more of a beverage, a food, and apharmaceutical) therein. For example, the structure including container102 may include one or more of a bottle, a jar, a drum, a box, a pouch,a bag, a carton, and other packages known in the art. In some exampleembodiments, interior 104 may be substantially fluidicly isolated froman ambient environment.

Some example containers 102 may include one or more oxygen scavengers108A, 108B disposed in fluidic communication with the interior volume104. In some example embodiments, oxygen scavengers 108A, 108B mayinclude tantalum oxide and/or may be disposed within interior 104 ofcontainer 102. In some example embodiments one or more oxygen scavengers108B may be disposed on an interior surface 102B of structure 102A, suchas on an interior surface 102E of wall 102C.

Some example containers 102 may include one or more light sources 110A,110B, which may be arranged to project light 110C, 110D onto at least aportion of one or more of oxygen scavengers 108A, 108B. In some exampleembodiments, one or more light sources 110A may be disposed outside ofinterior 104 and/or one or more light sources 110B may be disposedwithin interior 104. In some example embodiments, light sources 110A,110B may be configured to emit light comprising wavelengths betweenabout 380 nm and about 750 nm. In some example embodiments, lightsources 110A, 110B may be configured to emit light comprisingwavelengths of about 600 nm to about 660 nm. In some exampleembodiments, light sources 110A, 110B may be configured to emit lightcomprising wavelengths of about 632 nm. In some example embodiments, atleast a portion of one or more of oxygen scavengers 108A, 108B may besubjected to sunlight, which may include light comprising wavelengths ofabout 632 nm. It is within the scope of the disclosure to use aseparately provided light source instead of or in addition to lightsources 110A, 110B.

Some example containers 102 may include one or more sensors configuredto detect one or more conditions associated with interior 104 ofcontainer 102. For example, some example containers 102 may comprise oneor more oxygen sensors 112A, 112B configured to detect oxygen withininterior volume 104.

Some example containers 102 may include a purge system, which mayinclude an air mover such as a blower 114. Blower 114 may be arranged todeliver air (or other gas) to interior 104 of container 102, such as viapurge line 116. Purge line 116 may include one or more isolation valves118, which may be arranged to isolate interior 104 of container. In someexample embodiments, purge line 116 may be coupled to container 102 at aport 120. Air (or other gas) delivered to interior 104 of container 102by blower 114 may be vented from interior 104 via a vent line 122, whichmay include one or more isolation valves 124 and/or which may be coupledto container 102 at a port 126. It will be understood by those of skillin the art that reversing the direction of flow through blower 114 willcause air (or other gas) to be drawn into interior 104 via vent line 122and out of interior via line 116 and blower 114. In some suchembodiments, line 116 may be referred to as a vacuum line. In someexample embodiments, a purge gas comprising less oxygen than ambient airmay be used by the purge system. For example, nitrogen may be used as apurge gas.

Some example container systems 100 may include an automated preservationmanagement system (APMS) 128, which may be operatively coupled to one ormore of light sources 110A, 110B, oxygen sensors 112A, 112B, air mover114, and/or isolation valves 118, 124. These components are available tothose of skill in the art. For example, APMS 128 may comprise one ormore microprocessors configured to receive data from and/or to controlone or more of light sources 110A, 110B, oxygen sensors 112A, 112B, airmover 114, and/or isolation valves 118, 124. In some exampleembodiments, APMS 128 may comprise a computing device, such as thosedescribed below in connection with FIG. 8.

In some example embodiments, APMS 128 may be configured to periodicallyand/or intermittently monitor conditions, such as oxygen concentration,within interior 104 (e.g., using oxygen sensors 112A, 112B). APMS 128may be configured to automatically operate isolation valves 118, 124,blower 114, and/or light sources 110A, 110B. For example, APMS 128 mayautomatically apply appropriate electrical energy to open isolationvalves 118, 124, which may comprise solenoid-operated valves. APMS 128may be configured to automatically control operation of blower 114 toflow air (or other gas) through interior 104. APMS 128 may be configuredto automatically control light sources 110A, 110B, which may projectlight 110C, 110D onto oxygen scavengers 108A, 108B.

Oxygen within interior 104 may be captured by oxygen scavengers 108A,108B, which may include tantalum (IV) oxide, thereby forming tantalum(V) oxide. APMS 128 may monitor oxygen concentration within interior104, such as by using oxygen sensors 112A, 112B. Upon detection of anoxygen concentration at or above a predetermined set point, upon elapseof a predetermined time period, and/or when manually initiated, APMS 128may direct opening of isolation valves 118, 124. APMS may energizeblower 114 to flow air (or other gas) through interior 104 via purgeline 116 and/or vent line 122. APMS may energize light sources 110A,110B to project light 110C, 110D onto oxygen scavengers 108A, 108B.Light 110C, 110D may cause at least a portion of the tantalum (V) oxideof oxygen scavengers 108A, 108B to release oxygen and form tantalum (IV)oxide. At least a portion of the released oxygen may be removed frominterior 104 by the flowing air (or other gas). Upon detection of apredetermined oxygen concentration in interior 104, upon elapse of apredetermined time period, and/or upon manual operation, APMS mayde-energize light sources 110A, 110B, de-energize blower 114, and/ordirect shutting of isolation valves 118, 124.

In some example embodiments, contents 106A, 106B may be placed intointerior 104 of container 102, and container 102 may be substantiallyscaled from the ambient environment prior to operation of APMS 128. Insonic example embodiments, contents 106A, 106B may be placed intointerior 104 of container 102 after oxygen scavengers 108A, 108B havebeen subjected to light 110C, 110D. In some example embodiments,previously held contents 106A, 106B of container 102 may be removed frominterior 104 prior to subjecting oxygen scavengers 108A, 108B to light110C, 110D. In some example embodiments, oxygen scavengers 108A, 108Bmay be subjected to a vacuum during at least a portion of the time whilebeing subjected to light 110C, 110D.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating an example method of operating anautomated preservation management system 128 according to at least someembodiments of the present disclosure. Method 400 may include anoperation 402, which may include placing contents 106A, 106B withininterior 104 of container 102. Operation 402 may be followed by anoperation 404, which may include capturing oxygen within interior 104using oxygen scavengers 108A, 108B. An operation 406 may occur duringand/or after operation 404, and may include monitoring an oxygenconcentration within interior 104 using oxygen sensors 112A, 112B. Usingthe oxygen concentrations measured in operation 406, an operation 408may include determining whether the oxygen concentration above a setpoint. If the oxygen concentration is not above a set point, the methodmay return to operation 404. If the oxygen concentration is above a setpoint, the method may proceed to an operation 410, which may includeenergizing light sources 110A, 110B to project light 110C, 110D ontooxygen scavengers 108A, 108B, thereby causing at least a portion of thetantalum (V) oxide of oxygen scavengers 108A, 108B to release oxygen andform tantalum (IV) oxide and/or opening isolation valves 118, 124 andenergizing blower 114 to flow air through interior 104 via purge line116 and vent line 122. Following operation 410 may be an operation 412,which may include deenergizing light sources 110A, 110B, shuttingisolation valves 118, 124, and/or deenergizing blower 114. The methodmay then return to operation 404.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an example container 200, inaccordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure.Container 200 may include a structure which may comprise one or morewalls 202A, 202B, 202C, 202D, which may at least partially define aninterior 204 configured to receive one or more contents 206A, 206B, 206C(e.g., one or more of a beverage, a food, and a pharmaceutical) therein.For example, the structure comprising container 200 may include one ormore of a bottle, a jar, a drum, a box, a pouch, a bag, a carton, andother packages known in the art. In some example embodiments, interior204 may be substantially fluidicly isolated from an ambient environment.

In some example embodiments, one or more of walls 202A, 202B, 202C, 202Dmay be constructed from various materials known in the art, such asmetals (e.g., aluminum and steel), polymers (e.g., polyethylene andpolycarbonate), paperboard, cardboard, and the like. One or more ofwalls 202A, 202B, 202C, 202D may comprise a substrate with which aphoto-regenerable oxygen scavenger 208 (e.g., tantalum oxide) isoperatively associated. In some example embodiments, one or more ofwalls 202A, 202B, 202C, 202D may include a closure configured toselectively substantially seal interior 204 from the ambientenvironment. In some example embodiments, oxygen scavenger 208 may bedisposed on a surface 202S of one or more walls 202A, 202B, 202C, and202D comprising a substrate.

In some example embodiments, a photo-regenerable oxygen scavenger may bedisposed in fluidic communication with an interior of a container. Forexample, FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an example container system 300,in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure.Container system 300 may include a container 302 which may be configuredto receive one or more contents 306A, 306B, 306C within an interior 304thereof Interior 304 may be in fluidic communication with aphoto-regenerable oxygen scavenger 308, such as tantalum oxide. In someexample embodiments, interior 304 may be fluidicly coupled with oxygenscavenger 308 via a conduit 310.

Oxygen scavenging packaging materials in accordance with at least someaspects of the present disclosure may be constructed by disposingtantalum oxide on a surface of the packaging material. The surface ofthe packaging material may be prepared to receive the tantalum oxide,such as by electrochemically cleaning the surface using a solvent and/orby using sonication to remove unwanted impurities from surface. Tantalumoxide may be disposed on the surface of the packaging material by one ormore of electrodeposition (e.g., using dimethyl sulfoxide and/or bybeing dispersed in water using sonication), dip coating (e.g., heated toabout 100 degrees C.), spin coating (e.g., with heating), spray coating(e.g., with heating), vacuum thermal evaporation deposition, sputtering,and reactive sputtering. In some at least some tantalum oxide may bedisposed on the packaging material prior to its assembly into acontainer. In some example embodiments, at least some tantalum oxide maybe disposed on the packaging material after its assembly into thecontainer.

FIG. 5 is a plot of x-ray powder diffraction (XRD) data obtained from anexample packaging material before and after photo-regeneration, inaccordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure. Anoxygen scavenging surface comprising tantalum oxide was exposed tooxygen (forming tantalum (V) oxide), and the data labeled “Ta₂O₅” inFIG. 5 was obtained. The observed diffraction peaks are in goodagreement with the Joint Committee on Powder Diffraction Standards(JCPDS) No. 18-1304 data for tantalum oxide. These diffraction peaks maybe associated with (003), (200) and (203) planes related to thehexagonal δ-Ta₂O₅ phase. Next, the oxygen scavenging surface was exposedlight from a green light emitting diode, and the data labeled “TaO₂” inFIG. 5 was obtained. This data indicates that at least some of tantalumoxide lost its crystalline nature. The peaks have reduced intensitiesand are shifted by about 1 radian.

FIG. 6 is a plot of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) dataobtained from an example packaging material before and afterphoto-regeneration, in accordance with at least some embodiments of thepresent disclosure. An oxygen scavenging surface including tantalumoxide was exposed to oxygen (forming tantalum (V) oxide), and the datalabeled “Ta₂O₅” in FIG. 6 was obtained. Then, the oxygen scavengingsurface was exposed light from a green light emitting diode lightsource. Then, the data labeled “TaO₂” in FIG. 5 was obtained. Theabsorption bands at about 682 cm-1 and 731 cm-1 may be attributed to theO=3Ta stretching mode of Ta₂O₅ and TaO₂ in the polycrystalline phase.The presence of a band at about 872 cm-1 may be related the Ta—O—Tastretching mode. The presence of a band at about 3422 cm-1 may berelated to the absorbed —OH stretching mode for the absorption oxygen.

In some example embodiments according to at least some aspects of thepresent disclosure, regeneration of tantalum (V) oxide to tantalum (VI)oxide by exposure to light may be substantially complete. In otherwords, substantially all of the tantalum (V) oxide may be converted totantalum (VI) oxide. In some example embodiments according to at leastsome aspects of the present disclosure, less than all of the tantalum(V) oxide may be converted to tantalum (VI) oxide by exposure to light.In some such embodiments, the amount of tantalum (VI) oxide availablefor oxygen scavenging after regeneration may decrease with each use andregeneration of the oxygen scavenger. Some example embodiments may beconfigured to include an amount of tantalum oxide such that a desiredoxygen scavenging capacity is available after multiple uses andregenerations of the oxygen scavenger.

In some example embodiments according to at least some aspects of thepresent disclosure, manganese oxide may be used as an oxygen scavengerinstead of and/or in addition to tantalum oxide. For example, manganese(II) oxide (MnO) may capture oxygen from its surrounding environment,becoming manganese (III) oxide (Mn₂O₃). At least some of the manganese(III) oxide may be regenerated into manganese (II) oxide by exposure tolight (e.g., ultraviolet light at about 352 nm). In some exampleembodiments, light sources may be configured to emit light comprisingwavelengths between about 200 nm and about 500 nm. In some exampleembodiments, light sources may be configured to emit light comprisingwavelengths of about 300 nm to about 400 nm. In some exampleembodiments, light sources may be configured to emit light comprisingwavelengths of about 352 nm. In some example embodiments according to atleast some aspects of the present disclosure, manganese oxide mayoperate as a photo-regenerable oxygen scavenger according to thefollowing equation:

FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating an example method 600 of preparingan oxygen-scavenging packaging material, in accordance with at leastsome embodiments of the present disclosure. Method 600 may include anoperation 602, which may include disposing a photo-regenerable oxygenscavenger on a surface of a substrate. The photo-regenerable oxygenscavenger may comprise one or more of tantalum oxide and manganeseoxide. The tantalum oxide, if present, may operate as an oxygenscavenger when the tantalum oxide exists as tantalum (IV) oxide.Subjecting the tantalum oxide, if present, to light may transform atleast a portion of the tantalum oxide existing as tantalum (V) oxide totantalum (IV) oxide. The manganese oxide, if present, may operate as anoxygen scavenger when the manganese oxide exists as manganese (II)oxide. Subjecting the manganese oxide, if present, to light maytransform at least a portion of the manganese oxide existing asmanganese (III) oxide to manganese (II) oxide.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart illustrating an example method 650 ofregenerating an oxygen scavenger, in accordance with at least someembodiments of the present disclosure. Method 650 may include operation652, which may include subjecting a photo-regenerable oxygen scavengerto light comprising wavelengths of about 600 nm to about 660 nm. Theoxygen scavenger may include tantalum oxide. The tantalum oxide mayoperate as an oxygen scavenger when the tantalum oxide exists astantalum (IV) oxide. Subjecting the tantalum oxide to light maytransform at least a portion of the tantalum oxide existing as tantalum(V) oxide to tantalum (IV) oxide. The oxygen scavenger may form at leasta portion of a container configured to receive contents, which mayinclude one or more of a beverage, a food, and a pharmaceutical.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart illustrating an example method 660 ofregenerating an oxygen scavenger, in accordance with at least someembodiments of the present disclosure. Method 660 may include operation662, which may include subjecting a photo-regenerable oxygen scavengerto light comprising wavelengths of about 300 nm to about 400 nm. Theoxygen scavenger may comprise manganese oxide. The manganese oxide mayoperate as an oxygen scavenger when the manganese oxide exists asmanganese (II) oxide. Subjecting the manganese oxide to light maytransform at least a portion of the manganese oxide existing asmanganese (III) oxide to manganese (II) oxide. The oxygen scavenger mayform at least a portion of a container configured to receive contentscomprising one or more of a beverage, a food, and a pharmaceutical.

Some example packaging materials and/or containers may form a part ofand/or may be placed within temperature controlled containers, such asrefrigerators and/or freezers. Some example packaging materials and/orcontainers may form a part of and/or may be placed within storagecontainers, warehouses, storage units, etc.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating an example computing device 700that may include APMS 128 in accordance with at least some embodimentsof the present disclosure. In a very basic configuration 701, computingdevice 700 typically may include one or more processors 710 and systemmemory 720. A memory bus 730 may be used for communicating between theprocessor 710 and the system memory 720.

Depending on the desired configuration, processor 710 may be of any typeincluding but not limited to a microprocessor (μP), a microcontroller(μC) a digital signal processor (DSP), or any combination thereof.Processor 710 may include one more levels of caching, such as a levelone cache 711 and a level two cache 712, a processor core 713, andregisters 714. An example processor core 713 may include an arithmeticlogic unit (ALU), a floating point unit (FPU), a digital signalprocessing core (DSP Core), or any combination thereof. An examplememory controller 715 may also be used with the processor 710, or insome implementations the memory controller 715 may be an internal partof the processor 710.

Depending on the desired configuration, the system memory 720 may be ofany type including but not limited to volatile memory (such as RAM),non-volatile memory (such as ROM, flash memory, etc.) or any combinationthereof. System memory 720 may include an operating system 721, one ormore applications 722, and program data 724. Application 722 may includean oxygen scavenging algorithm 723 that may be arranged to directoperation of other components upon detection of a predetermined oxygenconcentration as described herein. Program Data 724 may include oxygensensor data 725 that may be useful for controlling other components asdescribed, herein. In some embodiments, application 722 may be arrangedto operate with program data 724 on an operating system 721 such thatexample implementations of oxygen scavenging container systems may beprovided as described herein. This described basic configuration isillustrated in FIG. 7 by those components within dashed line 701.

Computing device 700 may have additional features or functionality, andadditional interfaces to facilitate communications between the basicconfiguration 701 and any required devices and interfaces. For example,a bus/interface controller 740 may be used to facilitate communicationsbetween the basic configuration 701 and one or more data storage devices750 via a storage interface bus 741. The data storage devices 750 may beremovable storage devices 751, non-removable storage devices 752, or acombination thereof. Examples of removable storage and non-removablestorage devices include magnetic disk devices such as flexible diskdrives and hard-disk drives (HDD), optical disk drives such as compactdisk (CD) drives or digital versatile disk (DVD) drives, solid statedrives (SSD), and tape drives to name a few. Example computer storagemedia may include volatile and nonvolatile, removable and non-removablemedia implemented in any method or technology for storage ofinformation, such as computer readable instructions, data structures,program modules, or other data.

System memory 720, removable storage 751 and non-removable storage 752are all examples of computer storage media. Computer storage mediaincludes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or othermemory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD) or otheroptical storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic diskstorage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which maybe used to store the desired information and which may be accessed bycomputing device 700. Any such computer storage media may be part ofdevice 700.

Computing device 700 may also include an interface bus 742 forfacilitating communication from various interface devices (e.g., outputinterfaces, peripheral interfaces, and communication interfaces) to thebasic configuration 701 via the bus/interface controller 740. Exampleoutput devices 760 include a graphics processing unit 761 and an audioprocessing unit 762, which may be configured to communicate to variousexternal devices such as a display or speakers via one or more A/V ports763. Other example output devices include valve controllers and lightsource controllers. Example peripheral interfaces 770 include a serialinterface controller 771 or a parallel interface controller 772, whichmay be configured to communicate with external devices such as inputdevices (e.g., keyboard, mouse, pen, voice input device, touch inputdevice, sensors etc.) or other peripheral devices (e.g., printer,scanner, etc.) via one or more I/O ports 773. An example communicationdevice 780 includes a network controller 781, which may be arranged tofacilitate communications with one or more other computing devices 790over a network communication link via one or more communication ports782.

The network communication link may be one example of a communicationmedia. Communication media may typically be embodied by computerreadable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other datain a modulated data signal, such as a carrier wave or other transportmechanism, and may include any information delivery media. A “modulateddata signal” may be a signal that has one or more of its characteristicsset or changed in such a manner as to encode information in the signal.By way of example, and not limitation, communication media may includewired media such as a wired network or direct-wired connection, andwireless media such as acoustic, radio frequency (RF), microwave,infrared (IR) and other wireless media. The term computer readable mediaas used herein may include both storage media and communication media.

Computing device 700 may be implemented as a portion of a small-formfactor portable (or mobile) electronic device such as a cell phone, apersonal data assistant (PDA), a personal media player device, awireless web-watch device, a personal headset device, an applicationspecific device, or a hybrid device that include any of the abovefunctions. Computing device 700 may also be implemented as a personalcomputer including both laptop computer and non-laptop computerconfigurations.

EXAMPLES Example 1 Food Preservation Using Container with Tantalum Oxide

Testing involving an example embodiment according to the presentdisclosure was conducted. Surfaces of metal plates were prepared byremoving unwanted impurities using sonication. Tantalum (IV) oxide waselectrodeposited on the surfaces using dimethyl sulfoxide and an appliedvoltage differential of 2 VDC. A platinum positive electrode was usedand the metal plates acted as the negative electrode. After ten minutes,the plates were removed from the electrodeposition apparatus and wereassembled into a box with the tantalum oxide coated surfaces facing theinterior of the box. Noodles were placed into the box and the box wassealed. Once a day, the box was vented and light emitted by green lightemitting diodes was directed at the tantalum oxide coated surfaces.Noodles stored in the box at about 27-30 degrees C. remained unspoiledand edible after one week, while noodles stored under similar conditionsin a closed container without a tantalum oxide oxygen scavenger spoiledand became inedible in approximately one day.

Example 2 Regeneration of Tantalum Oxide Oxygen Scavenger ScavengerUsing Sunlight

In some example embodiments according to at least some aspects of thepresent disclosure, a container (e.g., container 102 described above)may be constructed with tantalum (IV) oxide on interior surfacesthereof. The tantalum (IV) oxide may capture oxygen from the interior ofthe container, becoming tantalum (V) oxide. At least some of thetantalum (V) oxide may be regenerated into tantalum (IV) oxide byexposure to bright sunlight, which may include at least sonic light atabout 632 nm.

Example 3 Container Including Manganese Oxide Oxygen Scavenger

In some example embodiments according to at least some aspects of thepresent disclosure, a container (e.g., container 102 described above)may be constructed with manganese (II) oxide on interior surfacesthereof. The manganese (II) oxide may capture oxygen from the interiorof the container, becoming manganese (III) oxide. At least some of themanganese (III) oxide may be regenerated into manganese (II) oxide byexposure to light, such as ultraviolet light at about 352 nm.

Example 4 Pharmaceutical Storage Using Container with Tantalum Oxide

Some example embodiments according to the present disclosure may beconfigured for storage of pharmaceuticals. For example, a pharmaceuticalsubject to oxidative degradation (e.g., sodium picosulfate(4,4′-(2-pyridylmethylene)diphenyl bis(hydrogen sulfate) disodium)) maybe stored in a container, such as container 200 of FIG. 3. Oxygenscavenger 208, which may comprise tantalum oxide, may capture oxygenfrom interior 204, which may reduce the concentration of oxygen ininterior 204. Reducing the oxygen concentration in interior 204 mayreduce the rate of oxidative degeneration of the pharmaceutical storedtherein.

The herein described subject matter sometimes illustrates differentcomponents contained within, or connected with different othercomponents. It is to be understood that such depicted architectures aremerely examples, and that in fact many other architectures may beimplemented which achieve the same functionality. In a conceptual sense,any arrangement of components to achieve the same functionality iseffectively “associated” such that the desired functionality isachieved. Hence, any two components herein combined to achieve aparticular functionality may be seen as “associated with” each othersuch that the desired functionality is achieved, irrespective ofarchitectures or intermedial components. Likewise, any two components soassociated may also be viewed as being “operably connected”, or“operably coupled”, to each other to achieve the desired functionality,and any two components capable of being so associated may also be viewedas being “operably couplable”, to each other to achieve the desiredfunctionality. Specific examples of operably couplable include but arenot limited to physically mateable and/or physically interactingcomponents and/or wirelessly interactable and/or wirelessly interactingcomponents and/or logically interacting and/or logically interactablecomponents.

With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singularterms herein, those having skill in the art may translate from theplural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as isappropriate to the context and/or application. The varioussingular/plural permutations may be expressly set forth herein for sakeof clarity.

It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, termsused herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of theappended claims) are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term“including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” theterm “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term“includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,”etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if aspecific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such anintent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence ofsuch recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid tounderstanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of theintroductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claimrecitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed toimply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinitearticles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing suchintroduced claim recitation to inventions containing only one suchrecitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases“one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or“an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should typically be interpreted to mean “atleast one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use ofdefinite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, evenif a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitlyrecited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitationshould typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number(e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without othermodifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or morerecitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a conventionanalogous to “at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in generalsuch a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the artwould understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one ofA, B, and C” would include but not be limited to systems that have Aalone, B alone, C atone, A and B together, A and C together, B and Ctogether, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances where aconvention analogous to “at least one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, ingeneral such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill inthe art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at leastone of A, B, or C” would include but not be limited to systems that haveA alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and Ctogether, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be furtherunderstood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive wordand/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in thedescription, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplatethe possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, orboth terms. For example, the phrase “A or B” will be understood toinclude the possibilities of “A” or “B” or “A and B.”

While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, otheraspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art.The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes ofillustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scopeand spirit being indicated by the following claims.

1-6. (canceled)
 7. A container comprising: a structure at leastpartially defining an interior volume for receiving contents therein,the interior volume being configured to be substantially fluidiclyisolated from an ambient environment; and a photo-regenerable oxygenscavenger disposed in fluidic communication with the interior volume,the oxygen scavenger comprising one or more of tantalum oxide andmanganese oxide; wherein the tantalum oxide, if present, operates as anoxygen scavenger when the tantalum oxide exists as tantalum (IV) oxide;wherein subjecting the tantalum oxide, if present, to light transformsat least a portion of the tantalum oxide existing as tantalum (V) oxideto tantalum (IV) oxide; wherein the manganese oxide, if present,operates as an oxygen scavenger when the manganese oxide exists asmanganese (II) oxide; and wherein subjecting the manganese oxide, ifpresent, to light transforms at least a portion of the manganese oxideexisting as manganese (III) oxide to manganese (II) oxide.
 8. Thecontainer of claim 7, wherein the interior volume is configured toreceive contents comprising one or more of a beverage, a food, and apharmaceutical therein.
 9. The container of claim 7, further comprisinga light source arranged to project light onto at least a portion of thephoto-regenerable oxygen scavenger.
 10. The container of claim 9,wherein the light source is configured to emit light comprisingwavelengths between about 380 nm and about 750 nm.
 11. The container ofclaim 9, wherein the light source is configured to emit light comprisingwavelengths of about 632 nm.
 12. The container of claim 9, wherein thelight source is configured to emit light comprising wavelengths betweenabout 200 nm and about 500 nm.
 13. The container of claim 9, wherein thelight source is configured to emit light comprising wavelengths of about352 nm.
 14. The container of claim 7, further comprising an oxygensensor configured to detect the oxygen within the interior volume. 15.The container of claim 14, further comprising a light source and a purgesystem configured for automatic operation upon detection, by the oxygensensor, of a predetermined oxygen concentration in the interior volume.16. The container of claim 7, wherein the structure comprises one ormore walls interposing the interior volume and the ambient environment;and wherein the photo-regenerable oxygen scavenger is disposed on aninterior surface of one or more of the walls.
 17. The container of claim7, wherein the structure comprises one or more of a bottle, a jar, adrum, a box, a pouch, a bag, and a carton.
 18. The container of claim17, wherein the photo-regenerable oxygen scavenger is disposed on aninterior surface of the structure.
 19. The container of claim 7, furthercomprising a port configured to engage one or more of a vacuum line anda purge line.
 20. A method of preparing an oxygen-scavenging packagingmaterial, the method comprising: disposing a photo-regenerable oxygenscavenger on a surface of a substrate, the photo-regenerable oxygenscavenger comprising one or more of tantalum oxide and manganese oxide;wherein the tantalum oxide, if present, operates as an oxygen scavengerwhen the tantalum oxide exists as tantalum (IV) oxide; whereinsubjecting the tantalum oxide, if present, to light transforms at leasta portion of the tantalum oxide existing as tantalum (V) oxide totantalum (IV) oxide; wherein the manganese oxide, if present, operatesas an oxygen scavenger when the manganese oxide exists as manganese (II)oxide; and wherein subjecting the manganese oxide, if present, to lighttransforms at least a portion of the manganese oxide existing asmanganese (III) oxide to manganese (II) oxide.
 21. The method of claim20, wherein disposing comprises one or more of electrodeposition, dipcoating, spin coating, spray coating, vacuum thermal evaporationdeposition, sputtering, and reactive sputtering.
 22. The method of claim20, further comprising prior to disposing the photo-regenerable oxygenscavenger on the surface of a substrate, preparing the surface of thesubstrate by removing at least some impurities from the surface.
 23. Themethod of claim 22, wherein preparing the surface comprises cleaning thesurface using one or more of a solvent and ultrasound.
 24. The method ofclaim 20, further comprising constructing a container comprising thesubstrate.
 25. A method of regenerating an oxygen scavenging material,the oxygen scavenging material comprising one or both of tantalum oxideand manganese oxide, the tantalum oxide scavenging oxygen as tantalum(IV) oxide to form tantalum (V) oxide, and the manganese oxidescavenging oxygen as manganese (II) oxide to form manganese (III) oxide,the method comprising: subjecting the oxygen scavenging material tolight comprising wavelengths of about 200 nm to about 750 nm; toregnerate at least a portion of the one or more of tantalum oxide andmanganese oxide by converting tantalum (V) oxide to tantalum (IV) oxideand converting manganese (III) oxide to manganese (II) oxide;
 26. Themethod of claim 25, further comprising, after subjecting the oxygenscavenging material to light, using the oxygen scavenging material toscavenge additional oxygen.
 27. The method of claim 40, furthercomprising, prior to subjecting the oxygen scavenging material to light,at least partially removing previously held contents of the container.28. The method of claim 25, wherein subjecting the oxygen scavengingmaterial to light comprises exposing the oxygen scavenging material tosunlight.
 29. The method of claim 25, wherein subjecting the oxygenscavenging material to light comprises operating a light source todirect light onto the oxygen scavenging material.
 30. The method ofclaim 25, further comprising purging an atmosphere adjacent the oxygenscavenging material during at least a portion of subjecting the oxygenscavenging material to light using one or more of ambient air and apurge gas comprising less oxygen than the ambient air.
 31. The method ofclaim 25, further comprising exposing the oxygen scavenging material toa vacuum during at least a portion of subjecting the oxygen scavengingmaterial to light.
 32. The method of claim 25, wherein subjecting theoxygen scavenging material to light is one or more of manually andautomatically initiated based at least in part upon a detected oxygenconcentration in a substantially enclosed environment containing theoxygen scavenging material.
 33. The method of claim 25, wherein: forconverting tantalum (V) oxide, the light comprises wavelengths of about380 nm to about 750 nm; and for converting manganese (III) oxide, thelight comprises wavelengths of about 200 nm to about 500 nm. 34-38.(canceled)
 39. The method of claim 26, wherein a container comprises theoxygen scavenging material.
 40. The method of claim 39, wherein theoxygen scavenging material is disposed on a surface of the container.41. The method of claim 40, wherein the container is a metal container.42. The method of claim 40, wherein the container is a polymercontainer.
 43. The method of claim 42, wherein the polymer ispolycarbonate.
 44. The method of claim 40, further comprising, aftersubjecting the oxygen scavenging material to light, placing the contentsinto the container to scavenge oxygen from at least adjacent thecontents.
 45. The method of claim 40, wherein the contents comprise oneor more of a beverage, a food, and a pharmaceutical.
 46. The method ofclaim 39, further comprising placing contents within the container toscavenge oxygen from at least adjacent the contents.
 47. The method ofclaim 25, wherein: for converting tantalum (V) oxide, the lightcomprises a wavelength of about 632 nm; and for converting manganese(III) oxide, the light comprises a wavelength of about 352 nm.